Hot Picks 12.14.23

Friday, Dec. 15

Holidays with the Jefferses

Celebrate the holiday season with one of Carmel’s most famous families. The “Music at Tor House” holiday event features music and songs, poetry and readings that reveal Robinson and Una Jeffers’ family Christmas traditions. The program includes the music of Bach, plus English, French and German carols, selections from A Book of Gaelic Airs, and more. The recitals include Katherine Edison (soprano), Robert Armstead (bass-baritone) and Melinda Coffey Armstead (piano) inside Tor House, the stone cottage and tower where the prolific 20th-century poet did his writing. A reception follows the performance. Seating is limited; reservations, on a first-come, first-served basis, can be made by email or phone. Payment by check, cash, or credit card may be made at the door. [AP]

4pm Friday, Dec. 15. Tor House, 26304 Ocean View Ave., Carmel. $25. 624-1813, thf@torhouse.org, torhouse.org.

Crafty Greetings

These days Hallmark appears to be busier making holiday movies than greeting cards – there are a staggering 40 new movies this season. Here’s our holiday movie pitch: Successful young woman from a greeting card conglomerate in the Big City travels to Monterey to buy out a small crafting business only to fall in love at a handmade holiday card making event. Along the way she realizes the true meaning of the holidays is a homemade greeting from the heart. It could happen, and there is a real-life opportunity to make handmade cards this season at The Pearl Works Holiday Crafts & Cards workshop. We can’t guarantee a meet cute, but we can promise you’ll have fun learning how to make cards using lino printing, a block printing method that creates stylish images. All materials are provided; all you need to bring is your creativity. [PM]

6-9pm Friday, Dec. 15. The Pearl Works, 288 Pearl St., Monterey. $30/ticket; $20/if money is tight; $35/if you want to help someone else attend. thepearlworks.com.

Fatherly Wisdom

Don’t let the smooth, toe-tapping melodies of Father John Misty (the stage name for Joshua Michael Tillman) fool you. Listen closely for bitingly satirical lyrics. Or just listen to the outstanding musicality of this prolific artist known for his live performances and conversational stage presence. An added bonus is you get to feel good about buying tickets to this show – it’s a benefit for the Big Sur Park School. So while you’re listening to lyrics that seem to capture your own consciousness, you can think about happy kids learning to find connection to themselves and others and the world through nature, through music and through learning. [SR]

7pm Friday, Dec. 15. Sunset Center, San Carlos and 9th, Carmel. $57-$92; sold out. 620-2048, sunsetcenter.org.

Birds of a Feather

A Flock of Seagulls is one of modern music history’s most influential bands. Bold statement? Not when you look at their achievements. Before they arrived on the scene, “hair band” referred to heavy metal groups with piles of impossibly curly, wavy manes that draped over their shoulders. But lead vocalist Mike Score changed that (note that he and bass player Frank Maudsley were real-life stylists). Also before they arrived on the scene, MTV played routine music videos. A Flock of Seagulls sparked an MTV revolution that lasted roughly until the band departed. Oh, and they defined the New Wave sound – and style – of the ’80s. Case closed. You want to know something else, though? A Flock of Seagulls has always been a really good band, with memorable hits like “I Ran” and “Space Age Love Song.” [DF]

8pm Friday, Dec. 15. Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St., Monterey. $48-$78. 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com.

Saturday, Dec. 16

Sew Long

The holidays are a time when people around the world gather around ritual and tradition. You probably have some of your own – that big feast, decorating an evergreen tree, singing with family and friends, etc. We all also have the power to create new rituals and traditions – in both big and small ways. One creative option happens Saturday at the Monterey Public Library, where the regular “Sewing with Meri” hour is devoted this week to making your own holiday ornament. The session is currently full, but you can register to get on the waitlist, or just use this as your sign that it is time to creates some DIY ornaments – whether at the library or not. It’s one small way to add something new (literally) to what is probably a long-standing tradition. [TCL]

10:30-11:30am Saturday, Dec. 16. Monterey Public Library community room, 625 Pacific St., Monterey. Free. monterey.org/library.

Saturday, Dec. 16-Sunday, Dec. 17

Musical Cheers

Since 1990, Monterey County Pops! – a symphony orchestra – has been putting on free concerts in the county around the holidays, and this weekend is one of those times. First up is a Saturday night show at Hfartnell College’s main stage, and Sunday afternoon the musicians will play at Carmel High’s performing arts center. We’re talking a 40-piece orchestra, the Hartnell College Choir, a trio of vocal soloists and two young instrumental soloists who are currently studying music at their respective universities. These are shows put on by artists who want to spread musical cheer throughout the county, and in the process, showcase the Pops! drive to mentor young musicians. And you still keep that money in your pocket for any holiday shopping you may have left – these shows are both free to attend. [DS]

7:30pm (doors 7pm) Saturday, Dec. 16. Hartnell College Main Stage, 411 Central Ave, Salinas; 3pm (doors 2:30pm) Sunday, Dec. 17. Carmel High School Performing Arts Center, 3600 Ocean Ave., Carmel. Free. montereycountypops.org.

Sunday, Dec. 17

Gifts For Peace

Monterey Peace and Justice Center hosts its annual holiday open house and market – an opportunity to see friends, enjoy live music by cellist Jack Mezcall and browse handcrafted gifts, baked goods, vintage jewelry and more. Come for the holiday shopping, stay for the camaraderie. [TCL]

2-4:30pm Sunday, Dec. 17. Monterey Peace and Justice Center, 1364 Fremont Blvd., Seaside. Free to attend. 899-7322, peacecentral.wordpress.com.

Four Score

If Jake Shimabukuro were a pop singer, his tour would make Taylor Swift’s look like a bar band. If he were a golfer, names like Jack, Arnie and Tiger would be long forgotten. If… well, we could keep going, but we just wanted to make clear the staggering level of his talent in the ukulele world. To put it bluntly, Tiny Tim tanked the four-string instrument. Shimabukuro not only resurrected it, he turned the ukulele into an A-list attraction. Musicians recognized by first name alone strive to perform with him. Yes, we mean Willie, Ziggy, Bette, Jimmy… Buffet. Probably need a last name there. Shimabukuro’s current tour is titled “Christmas in Hawai’i,” featuring holiday classics along with global favorites from his albums. It will be jolly – and it will likely sell out. [DF]

7:30pm Sunday, Dec. 17. Sunset Center, San Carlos and 9th, Carmel. $40-$75. 620-2048, sunsetcenter.org.

Wednesday, Dec. 20

Wrap Up

It is often said that we eat with our eyes – a phrase that highlights how sight informs other human senses. This is certainly true in the world of gifting, where an attractively wrapped gift is sure to delight its recipient, even before they see what is inside. Gift wrapping can be challenging – how does one manage tight, clean corners? – but it’s also a skill that can be learned. And Salinas Public Library is here to help. Head to the El Gabilan branch on Wednesday for a tutorial and some helpful techniques. Your holiday gifts will be better for it. [TCL]

4-5pm Wednesday, Dec. 20. El Gabilan Library, 1400 North Main St., Salinas. Free. salinaspubliclibrary.org. Contact JissellaD@ci.salinas.ca.us with any questions.

HOT PICKS by Tajha Chappellet-Lanier, Dave Faries, Celia Jiménez, Pam Marino, Agata Popęda, Sara Rubin and David Schmalz.